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Japanese Artists Imagine ‘Tokyoiter’ Magazine Covers Inspired by ‘The New Yorker’

By Kelly Richman-Abdou on July 27, 2017

Since 1925, The New Yorker has graced newsstands with its conceptually clever and creatively illustrated magazine covers. In homage to this recognizable and world-renowned aesthetic, a group of Tokyo-based illustrators have created their own covers inspired by Japan's blossoming capital city. Created for The Tokyoiter, a faux publication, each cover aims to “celebrate illustration, cartooning, drawing, design , creativity . . . and Tokyo.”

Each Japanese illustration retains several of the original magazine's familiar features. From its recognizable, stylized typeface and straightforward composition to the placement of the price and date, The Tokyoiter perfectly preserves the distinctive look and layout of The New Yorker‘s well-known cover art. This precise approach enables viewers to instantly recognize the inspiration behind the series and understand the intention of the made-up magazine.

In addition to their stylistic similarities, the two groups of cover art also convey a similar interest in subject matter. Like The New Yorker, The Tokyoiter often presents situations characteristic of its metropolitan muse. Focused on communicating “the passion for this city and its inhabitants' stor[ies],” the faux magazine focuses on exploring everything from Tokyo's culture and cuisine to its scenery and skyline, culminating in a beautiful collection of cover art.